Judy stood on the drive long after his taillights disappeared. Purple twilight gradually made shadows of the fence posts. A flock of sparrows settled on power lines across the road. She had never felt so alone. At the sound of footsteps crunching in the gravel behind her, she tensed before turning around.
“Oh, you scared me,” she said, letting her shoulders slump when she recognized her neighbor. “I apologize for sounding rude earlier. I really am grateful for all you’ve done to help us out.”
“No need to apologize,” Hart Wingate replied. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“As a matter of fact, I wonder…if you have time. That is, would you consider continuing to do the chores while I’m gone? Or help me find someone I can hire? I have to go home for a couple of weeks, for my job. But I think I’ll come back.”
“You’re a teacher, right?”
Judy nodded. “Yep. School’s out first Friday in June.”
They regarded the roosting birds for a quiet moment. “I’m happy to help. Louise and I worked together with the cattle. When you return I’d like to discuss our agreement with you. Louise was an interesting woman. We had some good conversations, and she taught me a lot about respecting our heritage.” He smiled briefly. “Even though she managed to ruffle some feathers by her obsession with recycling, I’ll miss her.”
Judy didn’t recall her aunt talking about a cattle deal in the papers she’d just signed, but decided she was too exhausted to think about it now. Three years she’d need to give. Could she do that? What about her job? And what did Hart mean, Louise obsessed with recycling? How could sorting one’s aluminum and newspaper be considered obsessive? She and Louise naturally did that at home in Lewiston. Didn’t anyone believe in recycling in the country?
“Aunt Louise gave up a lot to raise me. She never married or had children of her own, spent her adulthood raising me. She barely got to spend any time back here before she died. Being cut down at fifty-four is no reward for the sacrifice she made on my behalf. It all happened so fast, I hardly know how to feel.
“All my aunt wanted was to come back here and live out a peaceful life. I need to know why she died. Maybe just for my own satisfaction. Maybe so nothing like this happens to anyone else.”
Hart seemed lost in thought. “I can’t help you there. I am angry, I admit, but I don’t know what I can do to help.”
Judy hugged her elbows tight. “That’s all right. I shouldn’t be bothering you about my personal business anyway. I’ll check into your cow deal. Don’t worry.”
“Don’t let me keep you from phoning your boyfriend, or anything like that.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” Judy heard someone say in her voice. What? She blinked. Graham was her boyfriend, wasn’t he? Why would she deny it? She cleared her throat. “At least, I’ve only been dating someone for a couple of months. Graham’s been great. A shoulder for me to lean on when I needed him.”
“Apparently Louise didn’t see it that way. I was here last week when he showed up. She ordered him to turn right around and leave.”
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Healing Grace Page 31